ASIATIC LABOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 7

ASIATIC LABOUR

ITS INCREASE IN N.Z. STATE ASKED TO ACT MINISTER PROMISES SUMS ACTION 1 Per Press Association. T AUCKLAND, March 10. ■ A strong plea for protection front increasing competition by Hindus and Chinese was made to the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong/ as a deputy for the Prime Minister uy a deputation representing market gardeners at Pukekohe and in the suburbs ot Auckland and the European retail fruiterers in the metropolitan area. The deputation urgently asked tor aid on the ground that Hindus threatened to capture the whole of the market garden industry in the Franklin district and, in the second place, that the higher wage rates now being enforced made it increasingly difficult to meet the competition of Asiatics, who, it was alleged, were not affected by much of the present labour legislation and were evading the remainder. Mr. R. W. Bilkcy, president of the Franklin Produce Growers' Association, said that Hindus now occupied 500 acres of land at Pukekohe and a further 1100 acres at Ohakune, which was a neighbourhood excellently suited to vegetable growing. His association favoured repatriation of all Chinese. It realised that Hindus, being British subjects, could not ce dealt with so simply, but it believed that something could be done by tao Government to curtail their operations. On behalf of the New Zealand Fruit and Vegetable Retail Trade Association, Mr. R. A. Kealcy asked th st something be done to control the Asiatic retailers who, he said, persistently evaded all labour laws. He could bring postive evidence that one Hindu youth had been observed working M to 90 hours a week. It was sible to regulate the wages paid. “This is a very difficult and important matter that should be gr.ipplc I with in the interests of the white population of New Zealand." said the Minister. “One problem is in restricting the entry of Asiatics who ue Britishers and have equal rights I do not know whether our Constitution allows restrictions on particular classes of British subjects, but if they come here we can make them observe our laws.” Mr. R. Sexton, M.P., remarked that, according to what he had heard, the Indian Government objected to restrictions on Indians merely as such, but it did not mind if measures were taken to prevent unfair economic competition. Mr. Armstrong said that further amendments to the Shops and Offices Act were being prepared, and he thought of fixing statutory closing hours for each class of shop whether labour was employed or not. The Government was anxious to prevent evasions of industrial laws in cases where the relationship, of master and servant did not exist. He believed that, with tne nelp of the growers, this could be done in the market gardening industry. Mr. Sexton: I suggest that the question of the Indian Government’s attitude should be looked into, so that the Prime Minister may discuss it it necessary at the Imperial Conference. Mr. Armstrong: I will give Mr. Savage all the information that is available from the Labour Department. A provision is to be made in the Agricultural Workers Act for covering all classes of farm labour. Market gardening can be included if both sides consent. I cannot deal with all points that have been raised, but legislation that is under way provides much and we will see how much further we can go.